Search for missing teen in Lake Michigan near Zion now recovery effort: officials

ZION, Ill. (WGN) – The search has resumed Wednesday for a teen who disappeared while swimming in Lake Michigan at Illinois Beach State Park near Zion.

Officials say this is now a recovery effort.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said a 14-year-old boy went under water Tuesday afternoon and did not resurface.

Officials told WGN-TV at least 15 different departments from both Illinois and Wisconsin responded to the scene when the original call for help was made at around 4 p.m.

SkyCam 9 flew over the scene and saw law enforcement boats in the water, along with law enforcement personnel on the beach.

The sheriff’s office added one of their boats was launched and numerous drones were also flying over the search area.

Multiple fire agencies were also on scene and the Coast Guard also came to help, according to investigators.

Fire officials later told WGN-TV the search is now a recovery mission. Officials also said the boy was at the beach with his father and was in shallow water when he may have been hit by a wave, though the details surrounding the incident are unclear.

“His father was here with the little ones and his father took his eye off his son who was out in the water. By the time he recognized that his son was out in the water, he had disappeared,” witness Paula Myrie said. “He round up people to start going in and jumping in the water, but it was too late.”

Officials said the victim was going into his freshman year of high school and was from Wisconsin. His drowning was the first at Beach Park this summer and authorities hope it’s the last.

No other information has been released at this time.